Andrew

Andrew founded eg.1 in 2003 initially to focus on senior appointments for the professional services, technology and commercial sectors. Today, Andrew leads eg.1’s sales activities, the Professional Services, and Digital Business.

Andrew began his career within the Human Resources at Arthur Andersen, where he began to develop his understanding of professional services and strategic human capital. After six years, he transitioned his career into executive search, working at first for a European boutique and latterly Heidrick & Struggles across the UK & Europe. Andrew’s interests include sport, fitness, motorsports and cars.

Why I Do What I Do

“I do what I do because I believe that there is room for this industry to provide a great deal more value to its clients, candidates and employees. We are here to change the game.”

Our Team

Steve SkeatesChairman of eg.1

Steve joined e.g.1 in 2018 with over 20 years executive search and recruitment expertise. He has lived the full life-cycle of starting, growing and maturing an executive search business, resulting in a successful capital sale and exit. Steve has extensive experience working in the Boardroom; setting strategy, full P&L responsibility, management of shareholders, advising on complex negotiations and dispute resolution.

His expertise and proven track record are across the disciplines of tax, audit and advisory. He has the ability to build deep client relationships and lead high profile projects.

Why I Do What I Do

“I do what I do because I thoroughly enjoy growing businesses, developing people and doing things differently to stand out from the crowd”

Nathan OttDirector

Nathan is a co-founder of eg.1 and since 2003 has always had an unwavering focus on ensuring that eg.1 continues to maintain the high standard of delivery excellence to its clients as well as continuing to pioneer innovative solutions that enable eg.1 to keep their clients ahead of the competition.

With over 20 years of working with business leaders to get the best from their talent, Nathan has always thought there was something missing. Subsequently, through years of conversations with business leaders he realised he was not alone. This notion that ‘something was missing’ is the key stimulus for the original The DNA of a Game Changer research commissioned by eg.1 in 2013 that has led to the global framework, language and community of impact at www.thegcindex.com that we see today.

Dr John Mervyn SmithChief Psychologist

John’s experience and expertise is in organisational talent development and management. He has been assessing leadership capabilities, and coaching senior executives and their teams, in leading organisations for 27 years.

John was a PhD scholar a London University before training as a clinical psychologist in the NHS. He moved into the world of organisational psychology and held director roles with Kiddy and Company and Kaisen Consulting before setting up the Oxford Consulting Group. From there he established Misura Consulting and, more recently, The GC Index.

His extensive experience in the worlds of academic, clinical and organisational psychology underpin the development of The GC Index®, an organometric that profiles individual and team contributions to the world of work.

He has been a guest lecturer for AMBA, Warwick Business School, IOD, INSEAD, The Exeter Leaders Programme and The Cranfield School of Management.

Why I Do What I Do

Like most fortunate people, I’m drawn to doing what I do because it’s what I do best.

Dominic BriancePrincipal

Dominic joined eg.1 in 2007 and is now a Principal focused on professional services in Europe, Middle East and US. His engagements have encompassed executive search and market intelligence across strategy & operations functions in the private sector with a core focus on infrastructure & capital programmes. He has an MA in history from the University of Southampton.

Why I Do What I Do

“I enjoy building relationships with clients, candidates and colleagues and also the opportunity to work globally across multiple industries.”

Nick MeadHead of Technology

Nick has more than ten years’ experience in delivering executive search, market intelligence and leadership consulting engagements to global and boutique professional services, technology, digital and private equity clients. He has led the end-to-end delivery of more than 200 search assignments through which his clients have acquired people, teams or companies to provide a strategic step change to their business. He has been with eg.1 since 2011 and leads eg.1’s Technology & Digital practice.

Why I Do What I Do

“I have done a great deal of things from executive search, to market intelligence and executive and team development. I like to question and understand things. I have spent a great deal of time understanding what drives people, their engagement and how they can make their best impact. My role is to ensure the right people are in the right organisation and the right role to make their best contribution.”

Qing MakHead of MI and D&I

Qing is an Engagement Manager within the Market Intelligence and Executive Search service lines. Since joining eg.1, she has worked on engagements focused on delivering market insight, competitor analysis, succession planning and senior talent acquisition for professional services firms across the financial services & private sectors. Today, she leads eg.1’s Market Intelligence proposition, which involves advising clients on better account management and go to market. She has also led and delivered multiple searches at partner level for some of the world’s largest professional services firms. Qing holds a BSc in Economics and an MSc in Management and Economics from the London School of Economics & Political Science.

Why I Do What I Do

“Because it changes your perspective about life – people never fail to surprise me; just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does.”

Thomas MakrisAssociate

Tom joined eg.1 in 2018, after graduating from LSE in 2016 in international history and following internships in market research and consulting. Since joining, Tom has worked on market intelligence pieces in financial services and tax, in addition to search with boutique firms. A passionate Arsenal fan and self-proclaimed food critic, Tom’s interests also extend to travel and music.

Why I Do What I Do

I enjoy the variety that comes with the pieces I’ve worked on, seeking to identify clients’ scope for improvement and delivering meaningful impact.

Anna GildenbergResearch Associate

Anna joined eg.1 in 2018, after her graduation from Warwick Business School with a First Class degree in Accounting & Finance. She has worked on a variety executive search assignments and focuses on the Technology & Digital and People & Organisation spaces in the European consulting market.

Why I Do What I Do

I really enjoy improving my understanding of the markets we work in, and, ultimately, providing our clients with comprehensive strategy for their requirements and interests.

Jake GrayAssociate

Nishma PatelChief of Staff

Nishma joined eg.1 in 2010 and is Chief of Staff/EA to eg.1’s CEO Andrew Gray. Having had over 10 years’ experience in the executive search and recruitment industry Nishma has a proven track record of senior-level executive support, management, and training. She has a strong ability to streamline processes, maximize efficiency, and foster professional relationships within clients, candidates and stakeholders. Nishma has a BSc in Business Studies with Finance from Cass Business School, City University London

Why I Do What I Do

“I enjoy the variety, flexibility and the way it keeps me on my toes as no two days are the same; I get to meet and speak to a wide range of people. Making sure everything runs smoothly in our business gives me a great satisfaction.”

Iwona PiotrowskaFinancial Controller

Iwona joined eg.1 in 2008 as an Accounts Assistant and is now our Financial Controller. She began her career at City Bank in Poland as a Financial Adviser for Small and Commercial Businesses, before moving to the UK and joining Teca Ltd. as a Finance Assistant. Iwona has a MA in International Finance, and is part qualified in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Why I Do What I Do

“I like to keep cash under control and love numbers… the bigger the better!”

Sol AliIT

Sol joined eg.1 in 2003, following 20 years of industry experience in IT Operations. As our Senior IT Administrator, he is responsible for implementing IT infrastructure to help us meet the digital needs of our clients and enhance the quality of our daily work. As technology continues to transform every aspect of business, we must ensure that we stay at the leading edge ourselves in order to provide the most relevant and powerful service.

Prior to eg.1, Sol provided technology advisory services for a number of mid-size businesses across sectors including publishing and legal. His interests mainly consist of playing with gadgets!

Why I Do What I Do

“It gives me great satisfaction to know that what I do makes people’s lives easier and their work more enjoyable.”